Calvados Apple Pie

This a very tasty pie from the ‘olden’ days.

  • 10 cups of Granny Smith apples, cored and thinly sliced
  • 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 12 0z. jar of apricot preserves
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup Calvados
  • 3 tbsp. butter
  • 1 tbsp. grated lemon peel
  • 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup golden raisins (optional)
  • 1 unbaked 9 inch pastry shell

In a small bowl, combine 2 cups of the sliced apples with lemon juice and toss – set aside.

Place remaining apples in a medium saucepan, along with the apricot preserves, 1/3 cup sugar, Calvados, butter, lemon zest, spices and raisins (optional). Bring to a boil, stirring constantly then reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for approximately 30 minutes (should be applesauce consistency). Cool for 30 – 35 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pour warm applesauce into pie shell. With the remaining 2 cups of apple slices, arrange attractively on top and sprinkle with 3 tbsp. sugar.

Bake for 25 minutes or until pastry turns golden brown and the slices are tender and glazed. Remove to a cooling rack.

In a small saucepan, heat remaining apricot preserves with the balance of the sugar, stirring until the preserves are melted. Remove from the heat and brush the tops of the apples.

Serve warm with cinnamon flavoured whipped cream or cinnamon ice cream (vanilla if you can’t buy the cinnamon ice ceam).

In a word…..YUM!

 

Victorian Cookies

Why not? They are terrific and you just might cause a renewal of this. Everyone will absolutely love them.

 

  • 3 pkg. Philadelphia cream cheese
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 tsp. grated fresh lime rind
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 tbsp. sugar
  • Apricot Preserves  (try Saskatoon Preserves for a different flavour)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Cream together the cream cheese and butter until very smooth and light.  Beat in the lime rind.

Combine the flour and sugar; stir in one half of the flour mixture blending well.  Stir in the remaining flour.

Roll dough onto a lightly floured board to about 1/8″ thick (any thicker than this and they will fall apart when baking).

Cut into 2″ rounds and place 1/2 tsp of the preserves in the center of each round.  Form into a triangle by folding in 3 sides.  Pinch together gently and bake for about 12-14 minutes.  Cool the cookies a few minutes before removing them to a rack to cool completely.

If you don’t eat them all, store in a tin.